Fain and his sister share a jaded look—the same look I’ve seen on Lucretia’s and Jules’s faces many times when facing down ugly truths in the West. “The Resistance network was in place from the Realm War,” Fain says with a sigh. “When we smuggled Fae and others here. And now, with borders locking down and so much of the West desperately needing to get East...we’ve simply expanded our focus.”

I consider how active Bleddyn was in the Western Realm, helping Urisk and Smaragdalfar refugees escape east. “The people I came here with...” I say, tense with worry, “their illness is advanced. They’ll need medicine.”

Wrenfir winces. “I’ll get them Norfure tincture,” he assures me, seated now with one cat in his lap, another curled around his dark-clad shoulders.

I study him, surprised by his offer. “Are you a border guard, as well?”

He shoots me a cool look. “I’m not much of a joiner. I work on my own. As an apothecary.” He mentions this a tad confrontationally, and I’ve a sense that this is a loaded topic of conversation for him. “I’ve a stash of Norfure,” he adds, softening a bit as the cat wrapped around his shoulders begins to purr and he idly strokes it. “Made from ingredients...” his eyes flick slyly toward Or’myr “...that I’ve ‘borrowed.’”

Or’myr gives a short laugh at this, and gratitude swells inside me over the possibility of Tibryl and Emberlyyn getting hold of life-saving medicine. I nod at my spidery uncle, overtaken by the rush of bone-deep appreciation. “Wren, thank you. They’re really sick.”

What looks like pained understanding flashes through his eyes.

“Jules is sending word to everyone who can help unbind Elloren’s magic and keep her safe,” Trystan informs us all. “He’s going to secure a location where we can gather tomorrow eve.” He looks to Fain and Sholindrile. “Other Vu Trin saw me pull an ‘Elfhollen woman’ aboard my skiff. That might trigger some investigation. So Bleddyn’s going to come for her before dawn.” He turns to me once more. “You’re likely safe here for the evening, Ren, but tomorrow you’ll need to blend into Voloi.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

DAUGHTER OF THE RESISTANCE

Elloren Grey

Noilaan
Eastern Realm
Two days prior to Xishlon

“What happened to my parents?” I ask Fain. A plate of half-consumed black bread slathered in a tangy plum paste and thin slices of smoked Vo River eel sits on the dining room table before me, my hunger assuaged by the unfamiliar food but my emotions a tumult.